Pathway
Plant Fundamentals
Plant Fundamentals introduces apprentices to key skills in plant related apprenticeships: crops, landscape, and floral/greenhouse.
Length of Apprenticeship: One year. Youth apprentices can enter the Crops, Landscape or Greenhouse/Floral pathways for a second year.
Job Competencies
Youth apprentices must complete a total of 10 competencies. Nine must be from the list below. If necessary, employers can substitute 1 competency with another occupationally appropriate skill. That skill should be added to the competency list for assessment.
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- Prepare job preparation
- Prepare planting spaces
- Perform plant installation
- Perform plant maintenance
- Assist to install and maintain watering and/or irrigation systems
- Apply compost and other fertilizers as allowed NOTE: Only certified professionals can prepare, load, apply and handle pesticide(s)
- Manage inventory
- Assist to maintain agribusiness records
- Gather supplies and equipment
- Sharpen hand tools
Related Instruction
Students must enroll in 1 High School Credit or 3 College Credits of related instruction each year they participate in the Youth Apprenticeship program.
Purpose of Related Instruction
The purpose of choosing a related instruction course is to ensure students are learning technical and academic skills that support the student's ability to perform their work tasks. This should be done concurrently with on-the-job training to make relevant connections between learning competencies and work.
Choosing Related Instruction
You will collaborate with your YA Coordinator and School Counselor to determine the most appropriate option for related instruction. A course within your high school directly related to the career pathway is ideal, especially if dual credits and/or hours related to a potential registered apprenticeship are offered.
If there is not a directly related course in your school district, related instruction in the same career cluster is also acceptable.
If there is not a course within that career cluster in your school district, you may request to register for a college course through the Start College Now program with a local technical college, Early College Credit from a local university, or from an alternative provider such as Destinations Career Academy.
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- Agronomy and Soil Science
- Horticulture
- Plant Science
- Greenhouse Management
- Landscape Design and Management
- Sustainable Agriculture
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- Intro to Horticulture
- Intro to Soils
- Organic Soils
- Nutrients & Composting
- Hydroponic Growing & Systems
- Crops and Soil
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- Green Design & Technology
Post Secondary
There are numerous opportunities to continue your education after completing the Youth Apprenticeship program.
Registered Apprenticeships
The Plant Fundamentals pathway can bridge into a registered apprenticeship as Organic Vegetable Farm Manager
College and University
- Major in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at the Universities of Wisconsin.
- Enroll in the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources program at the Wisconsin Technical College System.